Jessica Lawless

I graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, Wales in August 2017, where I spent two years studying full-time for a Masters of Music in Solo Performance (violin). This course involved extensive orchestral, solo and chamber music performance. I took lessons with Lowri Porter (co-principal violin in the Welsh National Opera) and performed across the UK in iconic venues with world-class conductors. Since my postgraduate studies at this prestigious National Conservatoire, I have worked as an upper strings teacher (violin and viola) for Berkshire Maestros, one of the UK's leading music services. Prior to qualifying as a Master of Music, I spent one year year running a small teaching business and continuing my studies with university violin teacher, Caroline Balding. A total of 3 years was spent studying for a BA (Hons) in Music from top Russell Group institution, the University of Southampton. I began playing violin at school aged 8 after having been on the waiting list for almost 1 year! I attended an incredibly supportive state college/sixth form - I received free violin, theory and piano tuition for two years. During those two years, I also sung in the college choir and all-female chamber choir, achieved ABRSM Grade 8 Distinction in violin, took piano and theory exams, led the Fareham and Gosport Area Youth Orchestra, and played in the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra and their Chamber Orchestra. Jessica's highlight in this orchestra was their performance of Mahler's 2nd Symphony at Winchester Cathedral. Following college studies I undertook a BA (Hons) in Music at the University of Southampton, where I performed in SUSO (Southampton University Symphony Orchestra, including two foreign tours to Nice/Cannes then Valencia), the Southampton University Sinfonietta (Chamber Orchestra), and other music department historical projects. Conductors I worked with during my time Robin Browning, Jonathan Lo, Dane Lam and Maxime Tortilier. I have performed in string classes with cellist Paul Cox and received Baroque training from Adrian Chandler 'La Serenissima'. I also played 1st violin in a string quartet named 'Euphoria' for two years. For the culmination of 3 years of education, I played a Russian recital of Shostakovich and Prokofiev, and specialized in Czech composer Martinu as the subject of my dissertation. I am grateful for the overwhelming support and assistance which I have received throughout my student years: postgraduate bursaries from the William Price Foundation and the Wessex Society for Young Musician's Trust, a string scholarship onto an Easter orchestral course, a bursary to Dartington International Summer School (where I led the Dartington String Orchestra), two co-principal bursaries to perform with the Rehearsal Orchestra in Trinity Square London, and finally the Gillian Halse bursary as co-principal at the Rehearsal Orchestra's Edinburgh course in alignment with Edinburgh Fringe Festival (2016.) I also received full funding to perform Wagner's Tannhauser with the Edinburgh Opera Players Group in Portobello. I studied for two years under Lowri Porter (co-principal of the Welsh National Opera) at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. I occasionally took tuition also with Itzhak Rashkovsky and Rachel Podger. I worked with Wyn Davies, David Jones and Carlo Rizzi at the Sherman Theatre, the Dora Stouzker Hall and St Davids Hall. I performed with the RWCMD Symphony Orchestras, Chamber Orchestras, REPCO orchestras, Opera Orchestras and Conductors Showcase Orchestras. I co-led a production of Mozart's Le Nozze Di Figaro, and during this time had the pleasure of performing on a £10,000 George Hudson Violin kindly on loan from the Benslow Instrumental Loan Scheme. I also played in a contemporary, five-piece ensemble - The Nightingale Ensemble, who gave performances in Wales and London to high critical acclaim. One of the highlights of my time at college was a 3-night run of Kurt Weill's gritty opera, 'Street Scene.' I currently live near Portsmouth, Hampshire and run a small instrumental teaching business (violin, viola and piano) and really enjoy performing in my spare time. I play viola in the Havant Symphony Orchestra for fun and play violin in numerous local orchestras, including the Charity Symphony Orchestra, the Havant Chamber Orchestra and the Solent Symphony Orchestra. I borrow a beautiful Lowendall viola and a Lucci Workshop contemporary violin kindly on loan from a nearby teacher and mentor.